Washington: Tensions escalated in the strategic Strait of Hormuz after the United States reportedly destroyed 16 Iranian military boats attempting to carry out operations in the region. According to statements from Donald Trump, the vessels were targeted after intelligence suggested they were preparing to deploy naval mines beneath the sea, posing a serious threat to international shipping routes.
The United States Central Command said the operation was conducted to prevent Iranian military activity that could endanger global maritime traffic. The US also released visuals of the strike. Washington warned that any attempt by Iran to lay mines in the crucial waterway would face immediate military retaliation.
Trump had earlier issued a strong warning to Tehran, demanding the removal of mines allegedly placed in the region. He said that if the mines were not removed quickly, the United States would launch naval strikes on a scale never seen before. The warning included a declaration that any vessel attempting to deploy mines in the strait would be destroyed using advanced missile systems and maritime surveillance technology.
Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth indicated that the US could carry out its largest military strike against Iran since the conflict began, shortly before the attack on the boats. The developments have further heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
